The musings of a wandergeselle about faith, literature, music, dancing, culture, food, travels, art, fashion, photography, life experiences, and everything in-between from journée to journée.
Home cooking is now easier with all the high-tech kitchen appliances and cooking equipment available in the market. Whether you know how to cook or not, prepping a dish has never been this easy, quick, and fun made possible by these innovations designed to make anyone’s cooking experience more enjoyable.
One of my particular favorites is the Turbo Broiler. You can whip up any recipe you like may it be roasted chicken or choco brownie using this kitchen appliance. Yes, that’s basically from viands to desserts.
How different is it from traditional ovens? I think they are the same as far as functionalities are concerned. But, Turbo Broilers are easier to clean and if you live in a condo, it’s a definite must-have because they don’t occupy too much space when using or storing it.
Actually, the truth of the matter is that I am posting this because I miss eating uga/tuyo/dried fish because I can’t cook it here in the condo. lol It’s my second favorite food next to LIGO sardines. Yum!
I love cooking for my loved ones. I just don’t want them to blame me when they gain weight. 😅 And I must say, all thanks to my family for being the best cooking mentors. They are not easy to please though when it comes to home cooked food.
My parents, most especially, require a particular cut, variety, and texture when selecting and preparing ingredients. My Dad also prefers bland meals, while Mom’s on the salty side. So you can imagine how challenging it was before for me to come up with one dish that will satisfy both of them. lol
But, without a challenge, we won’t become excellent in what we do. And with practice, patience, and passion, I must say that somehow I finally met their expectations. However, there are some dishes that I still can’t get quite right according to their preferences.
My own version of Pancit Bato.
Do check out some of my home cooked meals in the video below, and don’t hesitate to comment or message me if you want to know the recipe for a particular dish. I’ll be more than glad to send it over to you. ❤️
This is best watched in full-screen mode on YouTube. 🙂
P.S. My favorite website for Pinoy food recipes is Panlasang Pinoy. Though I tweak some of the recipes a bit to suit my palate. 👍👍
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?
Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?
And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.
If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will He not much more clothe you—you of little faith?
So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.
But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” – Matthew 6:25-34
I accompanied my husband today for his biometrics appointment and MMR vaccination at S.M. Lazo Medical Center on Taft Avenue. We were also there last week for his medical exam.
The streets of Manila are surprisingly clean.
While searching on Google Maps for a fastfood restaurant nearby, I told my husband I would like to see UP Manila and the National Library. I was already able to visit other UP campuses in Luzon except for UP Manila. I’ve never been to this part of Manila being a Quezon City “baby” for half of my life.
Hello, Manila Campuses
It’s hard to capture a decent photo inside a moving vehicle. 😩
It looked like God granted my wish because today, our Grab car passed by UP Manila on our way home. 😅 I felt nostalgic when I saw the campus grounds. And I thought, why would I ever feel nostalgic when I haven’t even been there ever? lol Today’s my first time actually. Maybe in the parallel universe I was a student in this campus, a faculty, or an employee? 🤔
There’s this sense of familiarity and attachment to the place that I can’t explain as if I’m an old soul. I just brushed it off thinking the old architecture in the area might be responsible for evoking this nostalgic feeling in me. But yes, I consider myself an old soul. More about this in my upcoming articles.
And finally, I saw the other universities in this area that I only see on television. I also got a glimpse of the UP-Philippine General Hospital. Yep, I know. You’re probably wondering how can I be a Manileña and yet still have not been to a lot of places in Manila. Sorry, I’m an introvert, so I hope that explains it. 😅
Philippine Women’s University
The National Library is the only place in Manila that I still have to visit. I love libraries, especially the old ones. The Main Library in the UP Diliman campus was my favorite place during class breaks. It has a lot of rooms where you can hide away to read and get lost in the book that you’re reading.
Back in college, when I get bored in our apartment in Cubao, I just go to the campus and head to the library to read. Unfortunately, the Arts and Letters section was transferred to our college’s small library. And there were days when it got too crowded so I just borrowed the books and read them somewhere in the building that’s quiet. This is why I love empty classrooms, and other “entities” must have enjoyed my company, too. 👻
Ah yes, I really am manifesting a visit to the National Library next year when I come back to Manila after the holiday vacay in Bicol is over, and before sending hubby off to the airport. I’m not asking too much, Lord, am I? 🙏❤️😃
P.S. I hope to get better photos next time, too, and hopefully, not during errands.
“Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” – Mark 11:24
There is something about Mt. Mayon that captivates me. I’m instantly drawn to her beauty just like a magnet. I guess it’s not just the perfect cone that got me hooked, but also the tragic story behind it – of love and death. More about the legend here: “Star-Crossed Lovers: The Story of Magayon and Pangaronon.”
I haven’t seen Mt. Mayon up close in person, and it’s actually one of the items on my bucket list. I don’t want to climb it though, I just want to be close enough to observe all its crevices and cracks and marvel at its beauty.
Ctto
These crevices and cracks are proof of centuries of outrage and yet they all made this volcano even more beautiful. It has always been a mystery to me how this perfect cone remained as it is even during the most destructive phases of Mt. Mayon.
And just like us, what was meant for destruction and to be torn apart, God can turn it into a beautiful masterpiece that will showcase His profound greatness. ❤️
P.S. On a practical note, methinks my going near Mayon is a bad idea given my severe allergic rhinitis and the amount of SO2 that the volcano releases every day. I also have eczema, and I’m actually taking Coaltria daily as prescribed by my ENT doctor to prevent any allergy flare-ups. When I stop taking my meds, hives appear on my face, and just recently, a couple of itchy rashes on my arms. When God created the immune system, I think He forgot the right anatomy in mine. lol Ah yes, always the sickly kid in the family – nothing’s new. 😀
P.P.S. But I really, really want to be near Mt. Mayon – as close as I can get. It’s dangerous for me, but I think it will all be worth it. 😍 I don’t know why but I just want to stare at her beauty and touch the grounds surrounding her. Every time we pass by Mayon, we always see the best of her – nothing’s hidden, everything’s bare and raw. And it is what makes her more captivating. ❤️
Circa 2010– From Bulan en route to Manila.
It looks like God also answered my prayer because the LGU of Albay Province (all thanks to Rep. Zaldy Co) is planning on offering to the public a Hot Air Balloon Ride overlooking Mt. Mayon and the Pacific Ocean starting next year. Oh, my heart. I think it fell out. lol I’m just plain excited! 😍
I am praying it will be a yearly event so my husband and I can experience this together. But unfortunately, not in the next 2 years because he won’t be coming home. So, delayed gratification it is. Ah yes, when God teaches patience, you really have no choice but to learn it. 🙏
By the way, to the guys (Bicolano or not) who plan on proposing to their girlfriends, nothing can get more romantic than a hot air balloon marriage proposal. Now is your perfect chance – just make sure she’s not scared of heights. 😀👍
The LORD says, “I will give you back what you lost to the swarming locusts, the hopping locusts, the stripping locusts, and the cutting locusts. It was I who sent this great destroying army against you.” – Joel 2:25
Hi, beloved readers! I’m going to share with you today a quick video I made featuring our farm and some of our developments there. Because life is not all about being broken or heartbroken. 😉 And whether heartbroken or not, I am always busy doing something, especially if it is for God and His kingdom. 🙏
I recommend watching this when you’re ready to sleep because my sleepy voice will lull you to sleep. 😅 I also would like to share with you an essential item that’s also part of my emergency preparedness checklist – a reliable dog tag where you can attach important keys and a whistle.
This dog tag is in my everyday bag, and I always wear it when I’m at the farm. But you may want to include this in your Bug Out Bag (BOB) just to make sure you won’t forget to bring it with you during an emergency.
Is there a camera phone out there that doesn’t have a default selfie filter where your irises are enlarged and your pupils are dilated?
Though I also suggest hiding this dog tag underneath your shirt because people might think you’re in the military (if you’re not), and it might cause you more harm than good, especially when “chaos” starts. A construction worker at the farm actually thought I was a police officer when he saw me wearing the dog tag.
He asked me, “Ma’am, pulis ka tabi kay an kulintas mo…?” (Ma’am, are you a police officer, because your necklace..?) I told him that no, I’m not a policewoman and that my dog tag was given to me by my brother (he’s the real military officer 😃).
Dad’s my contact person in case of emergencies.
If you plan on having one made for you and your family, I recommend purchasing military-grade dog tags because they are highly durable. You won’t have to worry about them breaking off easily. 👍
“Then the LORD God took the man and placed him in the Garden of Eden to cultivate and keep it.” – Genesis 2:15
“It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; He will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.” – Deuteronomy 31:8
“Halimaw” or “beast” – that’s what our local farm workers would call the harvester. The harvester is just one of the agricultural mechanization upgrades built and designed to make palay harvesting time and cost-efficient.
The downside? Palay harvesting using a harvester simplified the harvesting process, thus, now only required a few farm workers. This means only one thing – we will only hire farm workers who will carry the sacks of palay from the rice fields to the side of the road. They are called here in our local dialect as “parasabak.”
The Process of Palay Harvesting
Before the harvester was invented, there were 3 stages in the palay harvesting process. The first stage is harvesting palay using a sickle, and this usually takes about an entire day. Then it is followed by threshing using a thresher that also takes about one day depending on the size of the rice field. And the last stage involves carrying the sacks of palay to the road.
For shipping and logistics, it will depend on the farmer if he owns a truck that will transport the sacks of palay to the rice dealer or rice miller. Palay producers operating on a macro scale usually own trucks as this will lessen the shipping fees.
But for SMEs (small and medium enterprises) like ours, we coordinate with the rice trader to transport the sacks of palay to their warehouse. There is actually a 4th stage in palay harvesting, which is drying the harvested palay and having them milled before selling the finished product, which is rice, to the market. The selling price of milled, dry rice is higher compared if the farmer sells the palay right after harvesting.
The disadvantage though of the 4th stage is that the unpredictable weather now makes it difficult for palay farmers to sun dry their palay. The profitability of palay relies on two factors – moisture content and yield percentage. The higher the moisture level, the lower the price of palay.
Other Farming “Beasts”
Other “beasts” in palay farming are the tractors, and just recently, the transplanter. My sister was able to talk to another rice farmer who is also a member of the farmers’ association that my Dad is currently a member of. She shared that a transplanter provided by the Department of Agriculture (DA) will be delivered soon and can already be used for the next cropping season. I’d like to commend the efforts of the DA, headed by President Bongbong Marcos, who’s currently the DA Secretary, for their continued efforts to help alleviate the challenges encountered by farmers in general.
The DA has an extensive set of initiatives to ramp up agricultural production, and I will highlight the importance of these initiatives, which will most likely change every year to adapt as we enter a climate emergency. The entrepreneurial mindset of farmers also needs to be tapped to increase their income from selling their agricultural produce. Connecting them to a wide range of markets through public-private partnerships will go a long way to ensure that not a single agricultural product will go to waste, and farmers will get their expected ROI.
So to answer the question is agricultural mechanization here for the better, my answer is “yes.” I guess, it will all depend on the generation of farmers. Because my Dad is a bit apprehensive about trying these new technological advances and innovations as far as agricultural mechanization is concerned.
Personally though, I am all out in trying all these farming innovations as part and in support of the Climate-Smart Agriculture advocacy. For as long as agricultural mechanization remains environment friendly and maintains low carbon emissions, then we maximize utilizing it.
All Hail To Women Farmers
I also noticed that there are now more and more women farmers venturing into agriculture, a popularly identified masculine industry. Now that I get to closely observe how palay production is being done, I must admit that men really do get the upper hand in the agricultural industry. Physical strength is the main component in accomplishing most of the farm tasks.
Dad’s Personal Assistant, that is, to rescue Dad in case he trips and falls. 😉
This is something that women, in general, do not have unless we’re Hidilyn Diaz. Agricultural mechanization is somehow the great equalizer in performing farm tasks without any gender bias. I actually want to try operating the harvester if it follows the same mechanism as an ATV. lol Transformers is my favorite movie of all time, so you guessed that right, I like machines.
And yes, my Dad’s a retired Civil Engineer and when I was still a toddler, he would bring me to his office when there was no babysitter. So, I get to snoop around them big trucks when he’s busy signing papers.
What I dislike though being in his office is that when I’m hungry, he would give me Skyflakes for snacks. Uhm, Dad, Skyflakes and toddlers don’t go really well together. But I do love Skyflakes now because they’re actually my “pantawid gutom” during exam days and “hell week” in college.
Why Invest in Agriculture
So, if you’re planning on investing in agriculture, I encourage you to start now even if it’s just a small parcel of land. Agricultural investments are feasible, and they’re a good source of passive income if you have the basic know-how, can hire a farm manager, or have been farming for a couple of years already. There is also a long waiting time between planting and harvesting seasons that will allow you to still have a professional job or side hustles so you can have other sources of income that will serve as your buffer funds.
We need agriculture because it is the only industry that produces food. Without food, it will basically be the end of humanity. This is the part where I’d like to thank and appreciate all of our farm workers who have been our loyal constants for the past decades from one generation to another.
It is my prayer that God will give me and my siblings the wisdom to provide them with more livelihood opportunities in the farming sector so they will also have a continuous source of income to provide for their families. God willing, project diversification might be the solution that we are looking for. And yet, not our will but His will be done always.
So yes, all the zebra stripes that my sister and I got because of the multiple tan lines we have are all worth it. Because if we want to go deeper and get to the core of all the farming issues and challenges that every farmer faces, it really requires that we go out there in the field, figuratively and literally, and get our shoes soiled.
Supporting Local Farming Communities
Another challenge with working in a very masculine industry is people management when the leadership is led by a female. I am observing their responses if they have the social stigma that women should only stay at home, or if they are just plain shy talking to women. 😀 But generally speaking, most of the locals here are good-natured people. Their lives are simple, and yet are rich in genuine connections bound by camaraderie, a true sense of belongingness within the community, and a deep attachment to their environment.
This is also the reason why my approach in managing our farm workers, especially the older ones, is to tell them about a task or a goal, then I ask them how we can accomplish it. I am not a micro manager so I don’t want to hover around our farm workers to see if they are doing the tasks right. I am actually surprised that they know more practical applications that actually work and provide good results.
With this data on hand, farm owners can now incorporate actual data gathered with farming innovations backed by research and conducted by scientists. I believe this is how we bridge the gap between conventional and modern practices – a necessary strategy utilizing this generation’s IoT (Internet of Things), which will in turn provide a more lasting, effective, and promising outcome.
Anyway, I’ll cut this short before it becomes a 100-page thesis. lol If you have any questions regarding palay farming, rice production, and the like, please don’t hesitate to write them down in the comment section below.
As always, “many are the plans of man, but it is the Lord’s purpose that will prevail” (Proverbs 19:21). Thus, let’s “commit our plans to the Lord, so He can direct our steps” (Proverbs 16:3). 🙏
P.S. Speaking of innovations, I am searching for portable and high-quality but affordable coconut graters that can be used at home. Bicolanos love using coconut milk when cooking vegetables and fish viands. Like this Bicolano fish dish called “Taguktok,” which is Dad’s favorite. I already modified it though because I used a different type of fish. We usually use “Buraw” stuffed with green chilis, onions, tomatoes, garlic, and ginger seasoned with salt, vinegar, and pepper. We have a lot of coconuts here at home since we’re also into copra production, but I just don’t know how to grate them manually. This doesn’t make me less of a Bicolana though, does it? 😉
I lack food presentation skills because I’m already tired cooking. lol
We all have this picturesque dream of living on a farm someday – an escape from the chaos of the city. Yes, it is indeed a beautiful dream, but it can also be a nightmare if you are unprepared.
Farming is a calling. It is not for everybody, and it is not a walk in the park. It is also not just about growing crops, harvesting, and selling them. Or putting up a homestead as “bahay bakasyunan” and everything will go well.
To help you decide if a farm life will best suit your needs or not, here are some of the disadvantages of living on a farm based on my observations and the challenges we have encountered:
Security of the Area
I placed this as the top priority among the farm tasks. Now that inflation and global economic recession are likely to worsen in the coming years as experts predicted, anything on your farm is of value to anyone who does not have them. Trespassers and stealing will be a common challenge at the farm.
Just recently, may mga umakyat ng bakod namin dito sa main house in broad daylight to harvest our rambutan. To think na nasa poblacion ito at hindi sa bukid, we have 3 guard dogs pa, and andito lang din kami sa bahay. Pina-blotter namin sa barangay dahil may mga kapitbahay na nakakita sa kanila.
Sa bukid naman maraming constant na trespassers at paguwi ay may mga dalang ni-forage nila galing sa mga tanim sa loob ng farm. Nanakawan din ang farm house namin ng sink, mga pinto, etc. back when walang nakatira doon.
You might want to read articles re trespassing laws in the Philippines to get tips on what to do if ever you encounter a similar issue.
Barbed wire fences don’t offer much as deterrents, but are only useful as land markers to delineate boundaries. If you want to keep your farm secure, you have to invest in electric fences (quite expensive especially if you need to cover lots of ground area), CCTV cameras (lots of them), and other anti-theft devices.
Know the Surrounding Community
What type of community surrounds your property? If you plan on living at a farm after retirement, will your family move in there with you? Because if not, it might be too risky to live there alone or with just your spouse when both of you are senior citizens already.
Who else will you be living there with aside from your parents? Are your children willing to relocate and transfer homes, especially if they grew up in the city?
It’s best if you have neighbors whom you can call for help during emergencies. They are also the best persons to ask re the topography of the land especially if they lived there for quite some time already.
Assess the Area for Water Sources & Electricity Connections
A farm needs to have a reliable water source if the area is not yet covered by your local water provider. If the property is located near a river, make sure the river doesn’t dry up during the summer season. Also, is it near the main power lines? Kasi kung malayo pa, ang mahal mag-invest sa solar panels.
Determine Flood-Prone Areas
A river near your farm is a good water source, but rivers can also pose a serious threat during heavy rains and excessive flooding. You will incur more crop losses if the river near your farm is one of the major rivers in the area where all surface runoffs from the surrounding mountains converge.
Identify The Type of Soil
Identifying soil types is important if you plan to plant crops. Some soil types are not arable meaning you can’t plant anything. Also, if the farm is located on a mountain slope, it will be prone to landslides.
Accessibility to Farm-To-Market Roads
Ease of access to the town proper/city will lessen your transport expenses. The nearer your farm to a major thoroughfare, the better when transporting your products because you can save on fuel expenses.
If you need to cross how many streams and mountains to get to the farm, you will be cut off from civilization. In this case, seeking help during emergencies will be very difficult. If it’s also not accessible by any vehicle, all the more difficult when it comes to logistic planning.
Hiring Farmworkers
Hiring farmworkers to tend the farm so you don’t get overwhelmed by doing all the tasks yourself is an additional monthly expense. If you’re retired already, your pension might not be enough to hire a farmworker. On top of the regular upkeep and maintenance costs of the farm, you also need to consider expenses for your daily needs and maintenance medications.
Farm May Or May Not Earn A Decent Profit
Depending on the crops you choose to grow at your farm, you might not earn that much. Climate change and unpredictable weather patterns make it difficult for farmers to adjust and recover from any losses.
If you will have your farm rented out, there’s a high chance the property will be misused and after the lease contract ends, you might have more problems in terms of land degradation, nutrient loss, and biodiversity imbalance which will take years to restore. If you plan to convert it to a resort, the same concept will apply.
You might consider looking for an additional source of income later on. This will serve as your buffer in case of severe losses and damages to your crops during calamities. Your options will vary depending on your need. If you prefer a passive income, you might want to explore lease opportunities. Online selling looks like it will be a mainstay in the marketing strategies of different businesses.
Tedious (And Costly) Processing of Paperwork (Land Title, Property Tax, Land Survey, etc.)
There is no easy process in legalizing a property whether you inherited the land or bought it. Oftentimes you would need to go back and forth to different government offices in the province or city where your farm is located. Some paperwork may take months to be processed and for some, it may take years.
Image Copyright: Christine Lailani Ginete-Rome
Farming Requires Grit and Passion
To those who are interested to transition from the corporate world to the agriculture industry, the work environment will be very different. In a corporate setting, you will be working with air conditioning. At the farm, you will be exposed to the heat of the sun while working.
Being hands-on in the management of your farm also means supervising farm tasks daily. I am not in favor of micromanaging so looking for skilled workers who can perform the tasks well is a must.
If the heat of the sun is something you’re not comfortable with, then expect your comfort levels to decrease even more when bugs and mosquitoes start to pester you anywhere you are on the farm. There are also some farm tasks that you have to learn to do yourself, especially the basics. Farmers, in a nutshell, have tanned skin (with blisters from insect bites) and callused hands, even if you’re a woman. 😉
But if you are passionate about farming, these challenges will be your stepping stones to achieve your goal of living sustainably on a farm. Your own set of problem-solving skills will also be very different as well as your system in managing your team of farmworkers. They are skilled laborers, but most of them weren’t able to graduate from college. You do have an option to mechanize all your farming inputs to lessen the number of workers needed at the farm.
But personally, farm mechanization is my last resort. It is still our priority and goal to offer as many jobs as possible and help farmworkers and their families achieve a better life. If the new generation of farmworkers has stable jobs, then I believe that will be the only time we will shift to farm mechanization.
And then of course there’s another set of challenges when it comes to employee management, which I will no longer discuss here in detail.
Consider buying a farm if you have extra money you do not need and wouldn’t mind if the farm earns a profit or not. If this is your only investment fund like a retirement fund, you might be better off with another type of investment that will give you a fixed and consistent income. Again, acquiring and maintaining a farm requires a huge capital and might offer limited ROI to keep your farm sustainable in the long run.
“We can make many plans, but the LORD’s purpose will prevail.” – Proverbs 19:21
Hello, my dearest readers! After a year of hibernation and very busy months, I’m finally posting here on my WordPress blog. This is not a regular blog post, however, as it’s actually one of our requirements in the Social Entrepreneurship online class I’m currently enrolled in at the University of the Philippines Open University. By reading my concept paper, I hope you will be encouraged to take the online course as well and be part of the catalysts for social change.
——————————————————————————————————–
My Vision of a Social Enterprise: WE Rice & Agri
by: Christine Lailani Ginete-Rome, LPT
BACKGROUND & RATIONALE
The social enterprise that my family and I have envisioned to organize one day, God willing, will be called “WE Rice & Agri.” It is derived from the statement, “We rise and agree.” When I was choosing the name for our social enterprise, I thought about what will highlight the main agricultural produce of our family’s agribusiness (rice) in the Bicol region with a subtle note on women empowerment. WE Rice & Agri stands for “Women Empowerment thru Rice and other Agricultural products.”
Why use women’s empowerment for this social enterprise? When the pandemic started in 2020, researchers have identified an alarming increase in the statistics of domestic abuse and violence on women and children. According to an article by Business Mirror,
[In the report titled, “Covid-19 and Violence against Women: The Evidence Behind the Talk,” UN Women partnered with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and analytics company Quilt.AI and determined that these online searches surged 63 percent in the Philippines. These online searchers included specific references to “men hitting women,” “spouse abuse,” “boyfriend hit me,” and “controlling men” or “controlling husband.”
There are several studies that can confirm that women in abusive relationships oftentimes do not seek protection or report the incidences of abuse because of several factors. One of them is economic security especially in the case of couples who already have children.
“Financial abuse is often cited by victims of abuse as the main reason that they stayed with or returned to an abusive partner…Research indicated that financial abuse occurs in 99% of domestic violence cases. Surveys of survivors reflect that concerns over their ability to provide financially for themselves and their children were one of the top reasons for staying in or returning to an abusive partner. As with all forms of abuse, financial abuse occurs across all socio-economic, educational, and racial and ethnic groups.”
VALUE PROPOSITION
WE Rice & Agri hopes to empower women in the Bicol region to rise up against domestic violence and abuse, provide economic security through livelihood opportunities, and assist in their recovery from the trauma through spiritual mentoring and counseling. The business initiative can also extend to widows and female senior citizens who are still capable of performing light tasks.
The organization seeks to partner with the DSWD and/or international agencies that are advocates of women’s and children’s rights. To aid in the empowerment, counseling, and therapy sessions guided by Biblical principles that will be held once a week, the organization will reach out to churches for volunteers who will be working under the Women’s Outreach Ministry of the organization.
Our agribusiness currently employs around 20-30 farmworkers, but they are comprised of men and mostly the heads of the families. Through our social enterprise, we also hope to provide an alternative source of income to full-time house moms by allowing them to work in the company as part-time workers. We are looking into setting up a daycare center where our women workers can leave their young children while working inside our farm.
DESCRIPTION OF PRODUCTS OR SERVICES
Our family’s agribusiness is a micro-enterprise but we plan to expand our business operations in the future focusing on Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) in support of the climate change mitigation efforts being conducted worldwide. We are into copra-making and rice farming for how many generations already starting from my great grandparents, which can be dated back to pre-World War II. Fast forward to 2021, we are now transitioning to innovative approaches in sustainable farming. Our 6.5-hectare farmland is located in Bulan, Sorsogon, wherein 1 hectare is allotted for rice farming and a small portion is used to grow coconut trees for copra.
We are also currently cultivating other rice fields with lot sizes ranging between .8 to 1 hectare located in different areas of the town. Another idle property is located in the town proper, which measures 264 square meters. We are still in the business planning stage on how to utilize it and one of our options is to set up a small store where we will be displaying all the agricultural products for sale. This will help us minimize our operating costs since we no longer need to rent a stall at the public market. The property is also located just a few blocks away from the commercial hub of our town.
There are some portions in one of our properties where we grow bamboos and cacaos but they were only used for personal consumption. We are planning to add organic vegetables and corn to the agricultural products that we would like to sell to the market. The following is the complete list of crops that we have and would like to grow in the future and the possible processed products that will be prepared by our women workers.
Rice – rice-based pastries or kakanin, rice wine, rice noodles, etc.
Coconuts – vinegar, tuba, walis tingting, buko juice, coconut husks for gardening compost, uling, etc.
Bamboo – weaved baskets, bags, mats, hats, other home decors
Cacao – tablea, other chocolate-based products
Organic Vegetables – lettuce and other high-value crops through hydroponics/greenhouse farming/mushroom farming
Corn – sold as raw and/or processed via mini food carts (popped corn, steamed corn, cheese corn, etc.); prepare the husks that can be utilized for industrial purposes i.e. fiber, cattle feeds, etc.
BENEFITS TO STAKEHOLDERS
Gender inequality is included in the 17 Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations. Stakeholders will not only be supporting a local cause but should the project becomes a success, it will add up to the communities all around the world that address and eliminate gender inequality. The percentage of locally expanding the network for this type of social enterprise is also high since there is only a small number of social enterprises operating using this business model in our region. We hope to encourage more local business owners to follow suit and also become catalysts for social change.
We are also exploring other viable projects for our 6.5-hectare farmland such as developing a portion of it as a sustainable agritourism site. This will provide other means of income and will also serve as a buffer during the typhoon and drought seasons wherein it will be difficult to grow some of the crops needed for the production of the agricultural products listed above. By diversifying our project portfolio, we hope to achieve sustainability in our social enterprise so our women workers will have a consistent income stream.
Consumers will benefit from more affordable prices as raw materials don’t need to be outsourced since our farm will be supplying them. For local buyers, they will now have a wider range of agricultural products to choose from in the market that can be purchased without spending on costly shipping fees.
We are targeting to cater to nearby communities and cities in the region by considering options such as contract farming and as a model farm through the Department of Agriculture’s Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance and by exploring other marketing channels provided by private organizations. The local community will also benefit from environment-friendly farming practices such as agroforestry that will enable the preservation and conservation of local biodiversity and ecosystems.
WE Rice & Agri will act as our company’s forerunner in enriching the lives of the local community in a holistic sense starting from the “ilaw ng mga tahanan” – the beloved mothers.
Photo by Christine Lailani Ginete-Rome (Bulan, Sorsogon): Some of the women farmworkers would gather excess palay grains in our rice fields during threshing. They no longer do this now since we’re already using a harvester.
“Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and He will establish your plans.” - Proverbs 16:3
I believe I’m not the only woman right now who’s faced with the dilemma of getting their hair trimmed and done since all the salons are closed. I have wavy hair, and I usually have it rebonded.
After some moments of deep contemplation (it’s a major life decision. lol), I finally decided to have my haircut from the comfort of our own home (thanks to my husband) because of the following reasons:
1. Use less hair products, save more.
I used to consume two bottles of shampoo and conditioner for my long hair in a month. But now, I use just one. I prefer hair products that contain natural ingredients because my hair’s been treated. They cost a bit more, however, than the regular shampoo and conditioner sold in the supermarkets.
2. You can save time and effort in managing your hair.
It became my habit to tie my hair in a bun without combing. Let’s just say I am too impatient to brush tangled hair, and it’s a bit painful too especially if you’re just going to brush them off without untangling the strands first.
There was one time where I got too impatient I brushed my hair intensely. The result? A huge chunk came off. Was it painful? I didn’t notice because I was so furious. 😂
3. I wanted to look my age.
Yes, I look like a high school student with my long tresses. Though looking young can be a compliment, it’s a disadvantage sometimes, let’s say, when you’re at work. If you want to achieve a professional look, a short hairstyle always does the trick.
The last time I cut my hair up until above the shoulders was back in high school. A shorter hair makes me look more matured, and I now look like someone in her 30s (I think). I still need your opinion on this one though. 😃
4. Less mane, less contact with COVID-19.
There are several instances that will make it easy for you to catch the virus if your hair falls everywhere. Like when you’re buying groceries and doing other errands, for example.
If your hair is long and untied, there’s a high chance your reflex is to tuck it behind your ear or brush it off your face. And this is what we all have to keep in mind while the COVID-19 situation is still ongoing – avoid touching your face at all times.
5. It feels light.
Ah yes, this is probably one of the best reasons why I chop my hair off down to half of its length if its long. It feels airy without that sticky feeling on your nape. My hair also tends to be greasy after a day.
No matter what our reasons are for keeping our hair short or long, it really isn’t the crowning glory. Go on and experiment with different lengths and styles. It’ll grow long anyway in a matter of months.
But what’s more important is how confident you are regardless if you sport a short hairdo or a long one. Beauty from within always wins the hearts more than what pleases the eye. ❤️
“Don’t be concerned about the outward beauty of fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes.” – 1 Peter 3:3
“You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God. – 1 Peter 3:4
Beautiful in God’s eyes always,
P.S. Having a gentle and quiet spirit is what I’m currently working on. Let’s just say I came from a generation that breeds alpha females in the society. 😉
So the neighbor once again smoked. It’s 2:21 am to be exact, and I’m still wide awake because I’m finishing the laundry. I believe this is how my allergic rhinitis worsened. They smoke in the wee hours of the morning when all our windows are open, and we’re fast asleep.
And this is even worse. We get to inhale the cigarette smoke without us knowing, and you can imagine how much of that smoke they puffed got inside our lungs. This is the disadvantage in communities like this where only a wall separates you from your neighbor – you hear and smell pretty much everything.
I am angry. Right now. I want to go outside and just shout at them and wake up the whole neighborhood. But something inside me told me it’s wrong. Instead, I thought it best to file a formal complaint against them at the admin’s office. Here are some parts of my complaint:
EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 26: NATIONWIDE SMOKING BAN
I am filing this complaint at the administration’s office first thing in the morning. While I would like to choose being kind, I cannot allow their irresponsibility to cause irreversible effects on our health. For one, they are not the ones who will pay for my medical fees when I get hospitalized because my health is already compromised due to second-hand smoke.
I am posting this here just in case anything bad would happen to me and my husband after filing the complaint i. e. harassments, threats, etc. , then they will be the first persons to be investigated upon by the authorities. I believe this is what God meant by correcting the bad behavior the right way and never using my wrath to commit another sin.
I will leave it to God and the law of our country to give justice and correct what is wrong. I am doing this not just for me and my husband, but for the other neighbors as well in this floor.
I know what I am doing is what God wanted me to do a long time ago. And I am confident that this is the right thing to do guided by these Bible verses:
“Learn to do good. Seek justice. Help the oppressed. Defend the cause of orphans. Fight for the rights of widows.” – Isaiah 1:17
“Do not pervert justice; do not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the great, but judge your neighbor fairly.” – Leviticus 19:15
Our neighbor, if you are reading this, I wrote this to give you a second chance and hoping we can settle this peacefully:
I tried to understand them as a person – flawed and yet someone who also needs God’s love and grace like me. Napapa-smile din ako kapag naririnig kong nagkukulitan ang mga bata sa terrace. They remind me noong kabataan ko at kung paano kami magkulitan na magkakapatid. Kahit maiingay, they somehow bring life to the eerie silence dito sa community paminsan. One of them sings beautifully, too.
What I hate is ‘yung act ng pag-smoke. Because ang epekto sa aming health ni Brian ay irreversible. I am also concerned about their kids at sa kanila din. They can actually smoke because my designated smoking area sa aming community although it’s one block away from our building.
I always pray na they will be able to overcome the addiction not just for us, their neighbors, but for their own sake. And yet kung hindi talaga kaya, okay lang sa akin na sa condo sila mag-smoke as long as isara nila ang pintuan at bintana nila ng maayos so no smoke could escape palabas na pwede naming malanghap.
The windows and terrace door ng mga units were all designed to completely seal any air from coming in or going out so they can still smoke if they really can’t control the urge. As long as huwag sa terrace. And yet I pray that they would quit altogether alang-alang sa mga anak or kamaganak nila lalo na ngayong panahon ng COVID 19.
I may not know their reasons for smoking and their need to smoke, and yet I know they have struggles, too, at baka ito lang din ang alam nilang way para ma-relieve sila. That is why I cover them with prayers always. Dahil ‘yun lang ang tanging paraan na alam ko na makakatulong ako sa kanila.
I just logged back in on Fb today. Naisipan ko mag-social media fasting buong araw kahapon after sharing about the issue with our neighbor to clear my head (the previous article). And yet nakita siguro ni God na my heart is still in turmoil kaya ito ang nangyari kahapon.
A Random Message But Just The Right One
I received a message sa LinkedIn. It’s from someone na hindi ko ka-connection and the message was about the last days here in this world before judgment day. It’s a random message from someone I barely know. Naisip ko baka nabasa nya ang blog ko at dito sya nag-message. Pero mukhang hindi.
Nagtaka din ako dahil professional profile ang account ko sa LinkedIn and wala akong kahit isang post doon about faith or Bible verses. Kaya naisip ko na baka inudyok din sya ng Panginoon to send that message randomly or on purpose.
How To Decipher God’s Message
Sa message ni Sir Joe, marami syang verses na pinapabasa as references. Naging habit ko na simula noong bagong born-again Christian pa lang ako na kapag may Bible verse na itinuro si God, I read the verses before it at ang mga susunod pang verses.
Sometimes buong chapter binabasa ko or several chapters. Pakiramdam ko kasi ang gusto ni God is malaman natin ang entirety ng Kanyang message hindi lang sa isang verse kundi sa buong konteksto ng Scripture.
How God Reveals Himself
Isa sa mga references na ibinigay ni Sir Joe ay Psalms 37:10. When I read the previous verses, doon ko nakita ang sagot ni God sa aking panalangin lately. Pero sino nga ba talaga si Sir Joe? Bakit nya ako pinadalhan ng message out of the blue but exactly at the right time – and exactly the answer that I was asking from God? Coincidence?
I guess paulit-ulit kong babanggitin na there is no such thing as coincidence sa faith. It is all part of God’s plans. When we seek Him with all our hearts and humble ourselves before Him, He always reveals Himself sa atin. At kadalasan sa mga paraan na ‘di kayang i-grasp ng ating human comprehension. Mahirap intindihin paano nangyari pero ang mahalaga, His message got through:
“Stop being angry! Turn from your rage! Do not lose your temper— it only leads to harm. For the wicked will be destroyed, but those who trust in the LORD will possess the land.” – Psalms 37:8-9
Nothing Is Ever Hidden From God
I guess patunay ito na God sees everything. Nakikita Nya anong laman ng mga puso natin. In my case, God knows how stubborn I can be and very determined when I want to do something. He knows all our plans, thus, He will rebuke when He knows our plans will do us more harm than good.
Regarding doon sa ibang Bible verses ni Sir Joe, curious ba kayo sa difference ng Earth and this world? Meron daw pagkakaiba. Share ko din dito anong idi-discuss ni Sir Joe na sobrang pinasalamatan ko for being used by God to deliver His message. 🙂 Pero patuloy pa rin ako sa pag-pray for God’s leading, wisdom, and discernment. We all badly need them ngayon. 🙏
The Journeyman's Moments 